It will be necessary to apply the mind carefully to the sustained argument as we consider the the interface between our deliverance and the person of Christ. Surely this is holy ground.

We are in a desperate situation, being guilty, addicted to rebellion against God and condemned to eternal punishment. We need one to rescue. Rescue is achieved by one bearing the punishment and performing the required righteousness, but who is qualified to do it for us? Qualification matters. My rescuer must be:

(1) A RIGHTEOUS MAN (See Genesis 3.15; Romans 5.12&15; 1 Corinthians 15.21)

He must be a man because:

(a) the laws which I have broken are for man (Galatians 4.4-5). They are meaningless for animals and some quite irrelevant to angels.

(b) the punishment for sin can only be born by a man. Death is the consequence of sin. Theologically we may define human death as the separation of body and spirit. An animal does not have a spirit and an angel does not have a proper body of his own - so neither can suffer that kind of death which is man's punishment for sin.

But the man who can deliver must be perfectly righteous otherwise he would not be suffering the punishment I deserve, but which he deserves.

(2) TRULY GOD

This is necessary in order to:

(a) be perfectly righteous - to err is human

(b) bear the wrath of God

(c) absorb all the punishment - a mortal man would have to go on bearing eternal punishment for eternity, but eternal God could bear eternal punishment in an instant.

(d) apply the benefits of His work - from heaven He could confer all the blessings purchased.

So who qualifies? Answer: only Christ. He is both God and man (John 1.1&14; Hebrews 1.8; 2.14).

Outside the church people find it difficult to accept His divinity; inside the church some find it difficult to acknowledge His humanity. The Bible clearly presents Him as God and man. Veiled in flesh the God head see. Hail the incarnate Deity.